The parable of the two debtors
Lk 7:36-50 36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
40 And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." 41 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
This parable illustrates the importance of loving God. Let’s see what the Bible says about the importance of loving God.
Rom 8:28-30 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
When you love God, He causes all things to work together for your good. What could be better than that? Even the things that seem to be bad from the human perspective will work for your eternal good. Even when people cheat you and hurt you, it will work for your good. That is an amazing promise.
1 Cor 8:1-3 1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
Jn 14:21 21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
Jn 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
When you love God, God reveals Himself to you in a more intimate way.
Moses loved God and kept His commands, and God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend.
What is more valuable than being friends with the Almighty God, the creator and ruler of the universe?
Jas 1:12 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Jas 2:5 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
1 Cor 2:9 9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
The crown of life and the kingdom of God are not promised to those who say the ‘sinner’s prayer’ but to those who love God.
What’s more, God has prepared some wonderful surprises for those who love Him – surprises that we cannot even imagine.
Deut 7:9 9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Ps 145:20 20 The LORD keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
If you love God, God will protect you from a lot of traps and foolishness. You will experience His lovingkindness and favor. You will receive the benefits of His covenant – and not just you, but even your descendants to a thousandth generation! How awesome is that?
Having seen the importance of loving God, the question then is: how can we increase in our love for God?
How much have you been forgiven? Much or little? If you see yourself as a person who has been forgiven little, then you will love God little. However, if you have seen yourself as a person who is forgiven much, then you will love God much.
The Pharisees had a high opinion of themselves, and so they loved God little. The woman, on the other hand, felt that she had hurt God a lot, and it broke her heart, causing her to love God much. When we recognize that our sin caused Jesus such great pain, and yet He died for us, we will love Him so much that we will consider it a great privilege to be His bond-servant.
Loving God results in loving His people. That is what we get from 1 Jn 5:1-2 and 1 Jn 4:20-21.
1 Jn 5:1-2 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
1 Jn 4:20-21 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
If you hate any child of God then you cannot love God. Anyone who loves God also loves his brother. If there is someone in your church whom you cannot desire the best for then you have to fix that attitude if you want to love God.
Love involves solving other people’s problems at our expense – even if the expense is great. The woman was not very rich. But she was willing to use an expensive alabaster vial of perfume to anoint Jesus feet.
Love involves caring for the dirtiest part of the body. Jesus walked to the Pharisee’s home, and there must have been a lot of dust and dirt on His feet. Yet, the woman stood behind Him and kissed his feet. That should be our approach to the body of Christ – the church – today. We should be willing to serve the lowliest member of the church, and consider it a great honor to do so.
Love is a demonstration of faith. Jesus’ response was, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." The woman did what she did because she believed that Jesus was the Son of God – the person Who she had hurt because of her sins. We serve God and bless His people because we believe Him. If you cannot love God, ask yourself whether you truly believe the Bible.
Love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Pet 4:8 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
The woman’s sins were many, but her love for Jesus put her in a position where God was able to take them away. You can be a man of many faults, but if you repent and are sorry that you hurt God, it becomes very easy for God to overlook your sins.
Love is demonstrated by obedience.
Jn 14:15 15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
If you love God then you will make every effort to keep His commandments. If you show disregard to what God says then it is proof that you don’t love Him.
Love brings about repentance. A person who desires to keep God’s commandments is aware of when he has failed to keep God’s commandments. He doesn’t want to stay in that position. He asks God for forgiveness as soon as possible and then gets up and walks again with an attitude of wanting to sin no more.
|